Xi Jinping Meets with Special Envoy of the ROK President Chung Eui-yong

2018/03/12

On March 12, 2018, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China appreciates President Moon Jae-in's gesture for sending Mr. Special Envoy to China to introduce his visits to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States (US) for promoting dialogue between the DPRK and the US. As a close neighbor of the Korean Peninsula, China always supports the ROK and the DPRK in improving relations and promoting reconciliation and cooperation, and supports the US and the DPRK to engage in contacts and dialogue and resolve respective concerns through negotiation. China remains persistent in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula. At present, the situation on the Peninsula faces an important opportunity for easing tension and dialogue. China speaks positively of the ROK's efforts to this regard and is willing to work with the international community including the ROK to further work on all parties concerned, and boost the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue by combining China's "dual-track approach" with helpful proposals from all sides. In the meantime, all sides should be patient and careful, and exercise their political wisdom to properly deal with and defuse various issues and disturbances in resuming talks. China expects a smooth DPRK-ROK summit and DPRK-US dialogue, and hopes that there will be substantial progress in promoting the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula and the normalization of relations between the parties. With utmost sincerity, no difficulty is insurmountable. As long as all parties can focus on the fundamental goal of denuclearization, peace and stability, the Korean Peninsula will finally usher in the spring, when ice will thaw and flowers will bloom.

Chung Eui-yong conveyed President Moon Jae-in's sincere greetings to Xi Jinping, and expressed that President Moon Jae-in paid a very successful visit to China last year. The ROK is willing to make joint efforts with China to advance the development of bilateral relations. The current situation on the Korean Peninsula has seen positive changes, and China has played an important leading role in it. China has always adhered to the goal of denuclearization on the Peninsula and a peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and supported dialogue between the ROK and the DPRK as well as direct dialogue between the US and the DPRK, which have promoted ROK-DPRK relations to make an important step, thus enabling the appearance of positive progress on the Korean Peninsula. The ROK extends sincere gratitude to China, and expects the Chinese side to continue playing an important role, and stands ready to cement coordination with China to safeguard the current easing momentum of the Peninsula situation, and promote resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through peaceful means, so as to achieve regional peace, stability and development.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and State Councilor Yang Jiechi and others attended the meeting.